Participants in the Black Partner Growth Initiative will receive personalized guidance and support to help their business take full advantage of Microsoft partner programs, offers, and resources.

To be eligible, your business must be a 51 percent Black-owned tech organization, a member of the Microsoft Partner Network, and based in the United States.

Eligible businesses who become partners include those who are:

• Offering consulting and services that utilize Microsoft products.
  OR
• Building on a Microsoft platform to build their own business.
  OR
• Developing apps using Microsoft products
  OR
• Creating IP using Microsoft products (i.e., organizations who are willing to build technology on the Microsoft platform)

Businesses who meet all initiative requirements can begin the enrollment process here.

Microsoft believes in supporting partners as they grow for the long-term. Microsoft is supporting partners through two programs to provide access to capital: a $20 million payment solutions program and a $50 million partner fund. The $50 million partner fund provides loans to support eligible partners through their startup phase, with the loan repaid over time as their business grows. The $20 million payment solutions program offers eligible existing and new partners interest-free, flexible extended payment terms on Microsoft invoices.

Existing and new partners will be able to apply or receive more information on these financing programs when they complete enrollment in the Black Partner Growth Initiative and as the programs become available.

Microsoft welcomes all technology businesses to join the Microsoft Partner Network. It is no cost to join. Learn about how to join and the benefits of becoming a member here.

Creating more access for partnership is an ongoing mission of the Microsoft Partner Network. We have set our initial commitment over a three-year period and will continue to evolve our approach during this timeframe and in the future.

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, shared many actions Microsoft is taking to address racial injustice in this post. As part of this, Microsoft made a commitment to increase the representation of Black-owned organizations in the US partner community by 20 percent within three years. Our pledge to address underrepresentation within our partner ecosystem will continue to be reflected through our business strategies.

Members of our International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners community, including partners from the Black community, provided advisory support for this initiative. They have offered feedback and insights which we will continue to consider as we grow the initiative.

We are actively working to connect with Black tech communities to drive awareness of the Microsoft Partner Network and this initiative’s offerings. This includes technology professional associations, startups, and supplier ecosystem organizations.